Snowplow chaos in Rostock halts tram and S-Bahn services after overnight crash

A routine snow-clearing operation turned into a transport nightmare. Now, engineers race to fix the damage before commuters lose another day.

, and ASMedia

2026 January 6 . 9:31 AM

1 min read

In this picture we can see the train engine in the front. On the right side there is a train bogies... — In this picture we can see the train engine in the front. On the right side there is a train bogies parked on the track. In the front bottom side there is a snow on the ground. In the background there are some dry trees and electric pole.

Snow-clearing vehicle damages S-Bahn overhead line - Failures - Snowplow chaos in Rostock halts tram and S-Bahn services after overnight crash

A snowplow in Rostock caused major disruption early on 6 January 2026 after becoming stuck in a tram track. The vehicle collided with a traffic light system and an S-Bahn overhead line mast, damaging infrastructure along the route. Services between Rostock-Fischerdorf and Lichtenhagen were halted as a result.

The incident happened at around 12:15 a.m. when the snowplow became lodged in the tram track while crossing the road. The collision damaged the tram track, track bed, and overhead power lines. The snowplow itself was left inoperable and had to be removed by tow truck.

Repairs now depend on the availability of replacement parts. Nahverkehr Sachsen-Anhalt (NASA), the operator responsible for the affected S-Bahn line, must supply the necessary components. If the parts are not in stock, the closure could extend to one or two days. Early estimates place the total cost of the damage at nearly €20,000. The disruption has left commuters facing delays while engineers work to restore normal service.

The snowplow’s collision with the tram infrastructure has led to significant repair work. Services remain suspended until the damaged sections are fixed and replacement parts are installed. The financial impact of the incident is expected to reach around €20,000.